it's a hoax. it's a money-making industry, okay. i'm not a believer in global warming. i'm not a believer in manmade global warming. i believe there's weather. i believe there's change. i believe it goes up and it goes down and it goes up again. but i'm not a believer. we have much bigger problems.

setting the stage for that dramatic decision this week to exit the paris climate accords. we're joined by scott pruitt this morning, his epa director. good morning. >> good morning, george. >> we just played those clips from the president back in 2015 during the campaign. is it fair to assume that that is still is the president's belief? >> the president made it clear that the climate changes. i think what needs to be emphasized is that our focus with respect to the paris accord was the efficacy of the agreement, how it impacts the environment and economy. the president said on thursday that engagement internationally is something that is going to continue. what paris represents is a bad deal for the country. as such, we need to exit. >> doesn't it matter whether or not the president believes there is manmade climate change? whether he believes it is a hoax? that is the predicate for the entire decision. >> with respect to the paris accord, the focus is on the merits of the deal and...

manufacturing base and jobs in the country. we have had over 50,000 coal jobs, mining jobs, since last quarter created in this country. almost 7,000 mining and coal jobs created in the month of may

people are stepping up. >> you lobbied the president on this. spoke with him in trump tower in december. spoke with him on the phone in may as well. what can you tell us about those exchanges and what the president unts about his issue and his approach? >> i have honored the commitment to keep those conversations private. i'll tell you nothing would surprise you about them. i presented all the reasons i felt and still feel it would be in the best interests of our country to stay in the paris agreement. but, the president made the wrong decision in my view. and in the view of most americans. you know, a majority in every one of our 50 states wanted the u.s. to stay in the agreement. a majority of president trump's supporters and voters wanted us to stay in.